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Record #3995
Name :
: William John BRADLEY (1911 - 1988)
  aka : Bill


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 14 Apr 1911

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 27 May 1988
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Middlesex, Leytonstone, Leyton, London

13 Union Rd
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Ontario, Fergus
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 22 Sep 1922
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Minnedosa

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesFlorence Beatrice Bradley b. abt. 1888 was William's mother. She was a housekeeper domestic at 28 South Morton Road, West Ham, working for a Joseph Kennedy (William's natural father) at the time of William John Bradley's birth. Florence had two children while living with Joseph Kennedy as his domestic, and the second child died prior to 1919. She left Joseph Kennedy, taking her older daughter Florence with her, but leaving William John Bradley to be raised by his natural father, Joseph Kennedy. When Florence left Joseph Kennedy, she went to live with her sister, Mrs. Caroline Ohlsson, maintaining herself and child (Florence) by working at a mat factory, at Butcher's Road, Canning Town. Later she lived with a Mrs. Stockwell.

On February 9, 1918 Florence Beatrice Bradley married George Williams, a soldier in Ireland living at 23 Exeter Road, Canning Town. George's father is listed as Henry Williams, Carpenter on their marriage certificate. Florence at time of marriage was a Spinster, working in a Jam Factory and living at 29 Exeter Road.

Florence told her new husband of her daughter's illegitimacy, but made no reference to the existence of William. In the meantime Joseph Kennedy had married, and become the father of four more children. His wife made no objection to the presence of William until Joseph Kennedy died in an explosion or fire at work in 1919; then, being obliged to apply for parish relief, she told William's mother (Florence) that a home must be found for him. As Florence's husband was a stern man, she was afraid to let him know of William's plight, as it would surely have meant shipwreck to the goodwill which existed between them. So Florence took William to Barnardo's Home for Children where he was admitted on June 18th, 1919.

On June 19, 1919 the day after admission to Barnardo's, William was taken to the village of Witchford, which lays close to Ely in Cambridgeshire, where he was boarded out for seventeen months. On Jan. 13, 1921 he was transferred to The Clapham Home in South West London where he remained for nineteen months until his admission on Aug. 8, 1922 to the H M Hospital for three weeks before embarking for Canada on Sept. 14, 1922.

Over the years William totally rejected any attempts by his family to contact him. In 1961-62 a relative came looking for him, and he refused to return their phone call.

William John Bradley died May 27, 1988 at the Fergus Hospital and is buried in Elora, Ontario. 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-08-08 12:56:03 / From original database

Additional Contributions from : alanmack

Last Updated : 2009-01-18 15:06:56 /

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3995 BRADLEY, William John1911ENG, MDX, Leytonstone, Leyton, London Sep 1922 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos